For major racing award
source:
irl.racing-live.com
The Hulman-George family, whose stewardship since
1945 has ensured that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has remained the most
prestigious and famous motorsports facility in the world, is among the 12
nominees for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters' Association
Newsmaker of the Half-Century Award.
The winner of the award, decided by a vote of AARWBA membership, will be
announced in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a cornerstone of the
motorsports media organization's 50th Anniversary Celebration. The final 12
nominees were selected by the AARWBA Board of Directors from an original list of
50 newsmakers.
Other nominees with Indianapolis Motor Speedway ties are Indianapolis
500-winning drivers A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti, Brickyard 400 winners Jeff
Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, 13-time Indianapolis 500- winning team owner Roger
Penske, Indianapolis 500 veteran Dan Gurney, and former Indianapolis 500 and
Brickyard 400 team owner Kenny Bernstein.
The Hulman-George family is responsible for making the Indianapolis 500 into the
"Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and the world's largest single-day sporting
event.
Anton ("Tony") Hulman purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and
quickly began to upgrade the facility, which fell into disrepair during World
War II. He continued an aggressive program of track improvements and worked to
build the now-traditional Month of May activities surrounding the race.
Hulman also was involved in the founding of the United States Auto Club. He died
in 1977, and his wife, Mary Fendrich Hulman, became chairman. She died in 1998.
Their daughter, Mari Hulman George, was named chairman in 1988.
Anton ("Tony") H. George, Tony Hulman's grandson, became Speedway president in
1990. He continued facility improvements and brought NASCAR to the Speedway for
the inaugural, historic Brickyard 400 in 1994. In 1996, George launched the Indy
Racing League and then returned Formula One to the United States in 2000 for the
United States Grand Prix after a massive construction project that included a
new infield road course and Pagoda control tower.
IMS and the Indy Racing League led the development of the groundbreaking SAFER
Barrier, and the SAFER system was first installed at IMS, in 2002.